controls 1 of 2

plural of control
1
as in controllers
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

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controls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of control
1
2
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of controls
Noun
Export controls have blocked Huawei and China’s leading chipmakers from access to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools and leading-edge foundry capacity around which the frontier semiconductor roadmap is organized. Mark Greeven, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 Anthropic had objected to the government’s decision to impose export controls in a blog post announcing that the two systems had been disabled. Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 27 June 2026 On Friday afternoon a small plane appeared to evade some of the world’s strictest aviation controls and slam into the tallest skyscraper in Beijing, the 109-story CITIC Tower that dominates the city’s skyline, killing the pilot and injuring 13 other people. Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 27 June 2026 It was not immediately known what caused the crash in a city with strict airspace controls, including a recent ban on drones. ABC News, 27 June 2026 Anthropic rolled out a series of controls in August that allow customers to provision users, view analytics and set spending limits at the organization and individual level. Ashley Capoot,kate Rooney, CNBC, 26 June 2026 By nature of Darwinism, insects resistant to certain controls often breed and multiply in a garden, passing on that resistance as a genetic trait. Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026 Rather than dealing with the dynamics driving away wealth, Xi Jinping’s totalitarian regime is imposing stringent new controls on buying stocks, real estate and insurance policies overseas. Editorial Board, Washington Post, 20 June 2026 Immediate steps were taken to strengthen access controls for customer profile data, and additional security features will be added in the future. Doug Myers, CBS News, 20 June 2026
Verb
But this week’s latest exchange of fire over who controls the Strait of Hormuz threatens to snuff out the deal just weeks after it was signed. Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 June 2026 Your party controls the Capitol. CBS News, 28 June 2026 Who or what controls the outcome? Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 The First Amendment Coalition contended that by withholding the records, the city violated the state Public Records Act as well as a portion of the state Constitution and a state law that controls which law enforcement records must legally be released. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026 Records show the 84-year-old still controls at least $290 million in residential property, a globe-spanning portfolio spanning Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Sun Valley, and New York City. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 June 2026 By default, the thumbwheel controls aperture or EV compensation, the right dial sets shutter speed or EV, and the left dial sets ISO. Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 The current passing through it controls how quickly the reactions occur, while the voltage helps drive those reactions forward. New Atlas, 21 June 2026 Via SpaceX, Musk controls one of America’s most important defense contractors. Gautam Mukunda, Mercury News, 20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controls
Noun
  • Gamers will also get access to player profiles with avatars for the first time, as well as support for a wider range of controllers.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 21 June 2026
  • Rather than a small drawer or tray, the divided top of West Elm’s storage coffee table rotates to reveal an empty storage cavity to fill with throw blankets, books, or video game controllers.
    Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • In your view, are the biggest risks from AI systems themselves or from the humans deploying them, the possibility of AI in the hands of rogue actors is particularly concerning here.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Ten members of the pool raised their hands with three admitting to having some knowledge of King.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • The last-place Angels appointed former Cardinals GM John Mozeliak to be their interim general manager and baseball operations consultant on Friday.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • For employers building out their presence in the space economy, this means continually competing for the select pool of workers who possess the skillsets needed to sustain current operations and long-term growth.
    Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Toph escapes the clutches of her mother — who poisoned and kidnapped her — by revealing her earthbending powers, breaking out of the metal cage to rejoin Team Avatar.
    Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • That may have been acceptable in the decades following the Cold War, but today's geopolitical environment is pushing both major and mid-sized military powers to prioritize advanced weapon systems that can be manufactured quickly, in large numbers, and at lower cost.
    David Szondy June 26, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The move by the Bar Standards Board, which regulates lawyers practicing in England and Wales, is the latest challenge Khan is facing.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 June 2026
  • This matters because humans have a direct neural pathway from the eyes to the brain region that regulates the circadian rhythm, our internal biological clock governing wakefulness and sleep.
    Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Every plate contains high-quality protein to support muscle repair and recovery, carbohydrates to replenish energy stores, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, iron and magnesium.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • This article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • He was called to the stewards and slapped with a one-race ban that rules him out of Sunday's Grand Prix.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
  • Best player available rules the day.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Fraicheur de Paris, which operates under a concession from the city, supplies more than 900 clients, from offices buildings to landmarks like the Opera Garnier.
    Francois de Beaupuy, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • Equipped with modern combat management systems, advanced sensors, and a ski-jump launch configuration, Vikrant currently operates MiG-29K fighters while preparing for future carrier aviation developments.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Controls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controls. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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